Collapsible barrel



Patented st. 15, 1929 UNITED STATES HARLEY A. W. HOWCOTT, 0FNEWYORLEANS, LOUISIANA COLLAPSIBLE BARREL Application filed July 25,1928. Serial No. 295,137.

My invention relates to improvements in collapsible containers, andespecially those wherein a plurality of hingedly connected sections maybe readily disconnected, permitting storage of such containers in alimited space, and it consists inthe combinations, constructions, andarrangements herein de-y scribed and claimed.

An object of my invention is to provide a container which may be readilyassembled f and dismantled without the use of special tools.

A further object of my invention is the provision of stave sectionswhich may be hingedly connected, and each hinge formed with flangemembers cooperating with the next adjacent stave so as to provide atight joint at the `junction of the staves. A still further object of myinvention is the provision of end closure members cooperating with thestave sections in such manner as to brace the stave sections upon theirinner sides, thus adding to the rigidity of the container.

A still further object of my invention is to provide end section of acollapsible nature which may be readily removed from a con-- tainer, andalso to provide locking means whereby said closures will be positivelyheld in engagement with the stave sections.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification,and the novel features of the invention will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accom panying drawings, forming partof this ap plication, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of acontainer embodying my invention. 40 Figure 2 is a sectional view on theline 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the stave sections. t

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating one of the end closures andlocking means.

I construct a barrel or container made up primarily of a desired numberolf stave sec tions 1, which when connected will produce the completebody of the barrel. Itis undern stood that any number, of sections maybe employed, and that the staves may have thev general contour ofordinary barrel staves, presenting a bilged elect. The staves may beformed from any suitable material, such as wood or metal, and in eitherevent, one longitudinal edge of each stave is provided with projectingapertured hinge ears 2, adapted to cooperate with the next adjacentstave as will be explained. The opposite edge of the stave is'providedwith an odset flange 3, providing a recess 4, for reception of anabutting stave section. The ends of the flange 3 stop short ot the staveends and a portion. of the stave is cut away to provide a shoulder 5, inwhichy shoulder there is provided a threaded opening 6. (See Figure 4.)At opposite lends of each stave section and eX- tendingcircumferentially, there are'provided kerfs or channels 7 for receptionof the end closure members.A In assembling a barrel or container, thedesired number of stave sections are selected, these sections beingarranged so that the edge lies within the recess 4 of the next adjacentstave, with the apertures oi' the ears 2 in alinement with the aperture6 of the abutting stave. A bolt 8 is then secured to the ear 2 intothreaded engagement with the aperture 6. It will thus be seen that thesections 1 are hingedly connected `to one another, and that the junctureof the sections 1 overlying the adjacent stave.4

The heads of the barrel are composed of three sections 9, 10 and 11, soshaped and of a size to be accommodated within the kerf 7 of the barrelstaves when assembled to forni the barrel body. It will be noted, byrefer ence to Figures 1 and 2, that the sections 9 and 11 are rigidlyheld within the lzerf 7 and that the section 10 is removably arrangedbetween the sections 9 and 11. The section 10 is composed of twosections 10a and 10b,.each

`.are eectively closed by the offset flange 3 the opposite section. lOaor 10b, as the case may be. The handles 12 may be of any desired shape,but in the present instance, I have shown them as substantiallyrectangular, having hand holds 14- and being apertured as at 15. (SeeFigure 5.)

Assuming that a barrel body has been asseinbled, and it is desired toclose the ends, the sections 9 and 11 are inserted into the open ends ofthe barrel, and adjusted within the kerf 7 on opposite sides of thebarrel` leaving the central portion of the barrel open. The sections 10aand 10b are neXt introduced between the sections 9 and 11. This isreadily accomplished by arranging thel sections "10a and 10b, as shownin Figure 5. A downward pressureV on these two'sections will-causeengagementof these `sections,at the outermost parts with the'lerf?. Theentire coverniay now be securely held in f this positionl by swingingofrthe handles-1Wdownwardly to lie inia plane parallel with the cover,and securing the handles by insertion of a threadedlfastening member '16throughI the apertures-15 intorespectivc sections 9 and 11.

lTo gain'access tothe interior Vof the barrel, it is only necessary to'-reniove "the fastenings 16, `grasp the handles .12,1 exerting an upwardpull, thismovement of the `partsfcausing ldis` engagement wit'hthe kerf72 orderito'provide an' even surface to the exteriortiof thevvcontainer, the 'flanges maybe connected' "by" circumferential "ribs 17'.The provision of such ribs-will permit ready rolling fof a' barrel, ifit-is "so desired;f

'F rom' the foregoing description, rit will be readilyseen that I'haveprovide'da container which may be readily collapsed; vthat thevjoints abutting each' stave* section are eifectively sealed whenassemble-d; and that said containerlwhenfconstructedns here shown and"described 'will' be strong'Y and durable, easily assembledand cheap Itomanufacture. Claim-:1: `f l 1. Abarrel having its body portion made upof a plurality-'of stave sectionsgfeach stave section: having one of itslongitudinal edges formed with"l -an *offset lflange, the oppositelongitudinalI edge being? provided `with "ear members, said flange-andfirst-'named longitudinal edge beingfproifided'with shoulders forengagement by saidf'ear members, and nieanssconnecting said sta-'vesections.VVA l k"2. A barrel having itsbody`v portion made upof apluralitylofstave secti'on`s,each stave section having "one of itslongitudinalV ledges formed withan offset fla-nge providing are# c'essf,said ange'and longitudinaledfg terminatinginw'ard'ly of the ou'teredgesand pifo vidingl shoulders, saidy shoulders beingpro`A` vided withthreaded apertures", itheopposite longitudinal 'edge of each stave beingpro# vided with aperture-dl ear portions, said?` porl tions "being of;lsize tol iengagev snugly"upon sai'df` shoulders, whereby-"to `causecontacting u l IVMISUVL." .igl- ,i .kfw L Y f ;n j.; ,vr

apertured ears and shoulders.

HARLEY A. W. HOWCOTT.

